Big Brother's little bother

The inclusion of a white contestant in a pan-African version of the television show Big Brother has ignited a heated debate about who can call themselves an African.

Stefan Ludik, 22, is a Namibian citizen but protestors say he should not be eligible for the hit reality programme because his ancestors came from Europe.

Viewers across the continent got their first chance to pass judgment last night by voting to evict one of 12 housemates.

In a unique twist to the Big Brother format, each of the contestants comes from a different country, turning their house in Johannesburg into an arena of national pride. They are being watched by 20 million viewers in more than 40 countries.

The South African pay-TV company M-Net has billed its show as a continental melting pot, but viewers seem mostly to be voting for their compatriots - Botswana's president is openly rooting for Warona Setshwaelo, a 26-year-old video editor.

Mr Ludik could be the exception since fellow Namibians have complained about being represented by a member of the country's small white minority.

A survey by the newspaper The Namibian drew withering responses: "It is an embarrassment. Not even South Africa is represented by a white person." Another reader said: "Some whites may be born here but they are not black. His grandfather probably came from Europe."

Others however welcomed the inclusion of the polygraph examiner from Windhoek as evidence of Africa's tolerance and multiculturalism.

M-Net said it selected Mr Ludik because he was the best candidate, not because he was white. The show's cultural adviser, Prof Kole Omotoso, said it would have been stupid to pretend that black people were the only Africans.

Mr Ludik, apparently unaware of the controversy back home, is enjoying the attentions of female housemates, notably Tapuwa Mhere from Zimbabwe.

However those wanting to see some steamy romance have pinned their hopes on South Africa's Abergail Plaatjes and Uganda's Gaetano Kagwa after they kissed in the jacuzzi.